Improvement in gang-plows



. UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrca.

J. L. BUNK, OF NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GANG-PLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,961, dated September 15, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. L. BUNK, of Nashville, in the county of Washington and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gang-Flows; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and made to form a part of this specification.

The nature of this invention relates chiefly to the lateral and vertical adjustment of the plows, as hereinafter set forth and represented.

In reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view or plan of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 aperspective view, of my improved gang-plow as complete and ready for use.

A represents the front wheels, which support and rotate upon the axle B.

D represents an inclined or wedge-shaped bolster, made of suitable material, and adapted to fit and rest upon the axle B, to which it will be secured by means of bolts (7. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the said bolts d pass through long mortises or slots e, formed in the said bolster D, and at their upper ends are provided with nuts, so that when the said nuts are loosened the said bolster D may be capable of lateral adjustment with reference to the axle B; and this adjustment will be efl'ected by means of a screw,f, which is adapted to work in the end of the said bolster.

f is an upright iron bar secured firmly in the axle B, through which the said screwf is made to pass, a shoulder being formed upon said screw which is adapted to bear against the inside of the bar f,while thehand-wheel g,which is secured upon the outer end of the screw f, is adapted to bear against the outside of the said barf. Thus the said screwf, while being allowed rotation, is prevented from longitudinal motion, so that by turningthe said hand-wheel g to the right or left, thereby operating the screw f, the bolster D may be adjusted laterally in such manner as to give more or less land to the plows.-

Eis a platform, the forward end of which will be firmly andrigidly secured to the bolster D, while its rear end will be supported by means of the truck h and post i.

H represents the plow-beams, which will he made, in a strong substantial manner, of suitable material, and hinged to the platform E atj, so that the rear ends of the said beams may be allowed vertical motion sufficient to insure the proper elevation of the plows above the ground. The said beams will be secured together by means of iron plates It, so that in the operation of the plows the strength of the beams and platform will be combined and made to act, to a certain extent, asone solid beam.

m is an iron frame attached to the platform E.

n is a lever pivoted to the frame m at m.

'n is a plate of metal pivoted to a beam, H,-

and to the lever n at a, so that by depressing the forward end of the said lever 11. the rear ends of the beams H will be elevated in such manner as to raise the plowsp from the ground; and the said lever may be secured in this depressed position, when desired, by means of the pin 1', which passes through staples r of the beams H. The advantage of this arrangement of the said lever n is that it requires buta slightpressure to elevate the plows. The standards p of the plowsp may be secured to the beams H by means of suitable clamps, s.

t represents the drivers seat.

The inclination of the wedge-shaped bolster D is such as to be adapted to the depthto which ground is ordinarily plowed, so that when the plow is operating with the right-hand or off wheel in the furrow thebeams and platform will belevel, or in a position to allow both plows to operate at an equal depth in the ground.

In order to adjust the plows laterally to the land, the operator will loosen the nuts upon the upper ends of the bolts d, and then turn the hand-wheel to the right or left, as the case may be, until the proper position of the bolster is effected to secure the desired object. The said nuts will be again tightened and the operation will be completed, and that without necessarily stopping the team or the operation of the plows.

1 do not wish to be understood as claiming the inclination of the bolster D as being a vital part of my invention, as'it is quite obvious that a bolster without inclination might be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention; but I prefer the construction herein set forth, as it enables me to employ and beams H, all being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th dayof June, 1863.

. J. L. BUNK. [L. s.] Witnesses:

H. E. CLIFTON, HERRM. BOERKE. 

